Fibrous Proteins: Amyloids, Prions and Beta Proteins
Fibrous Proteins: Amyloids, Prions and Beta Proteins

Author: John M. Squire

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2006-12-12

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 0080468950

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Amyloids, Prions and Beta Proteins is the last volume of the three-part thematic series on Fibrous Proteins in the Advances in Protein Chemistry serial. Fibrous proteins act as molecular scaffolds in cells providing the supporting structures of our skeletons, bones, tendons, cartilage, and skin. They define the mechanical properties of our internal hollow organs such as the intestines, heart, and blood vessels. This volume covers such topics as Beta-Structures in Fibrous Proteins; B-Silks: Enhancing and Controlling Aggregation; Beta-Rolls, Beta-Helices and Other Beta-Solenoid Proteins; Natural Triple B-Stranded Fibrous Folds; Structure, Function and Amyloidogenesis of Fungal Prions: Filament Polymorphism and Prion Variants; X-Ray Fiber and powder Diffraction of PRP Prion Peptides; From the Polymorphism of Amyloid Fibrils to Their Assembly Mechanism and Cytotoxicity; Structural Models of Amyloid-like Fibrils.

Fibrous Proteins: Muscle and Molecular Motors
Fibrous Proteins: Muscle and Molecular Motors

Author: John M. Squire

Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing

Published: 2005-08-29

Total Pages: 558

ISBN-13: 9780120342716

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Molecular Motors and Muscle is the second of a three-part series on Fibrous Proteins. The books are based on a very successful workshop in Alpbach, Austria on the general topic of Fibrous Proteins that gave rise to the award-winning issue of Journal of Structural Biology. There are two major types of protein: Globular proteins which are often enzymes which speed up biochemical reactions and Fibrous proteins which often have more structural roles but can also have dynamic properties. Fibrous proteins are usually either elongated molecules which pack together to form long filaments, as in the case of the intermediate filaments in our hair and skin and as in collagen fibrils in tendons and bones or they are globular proteins which aggregate linearly to form long filaments, such as actin filaments or microtubules. Fibrous proteins act as molecular scaffolds in cells, they can be involved in transport of cell organelles or even on a visible scale as in our muscles. They provide the supporting structures of our skeletons, bones, tendons, cartilage, and skin. They define the mechanical properties of our internal hollow organs such as the intestines, heart, and blood vessels. They are vital for life and represent a fascinating subset of the proteome. Advances in Protein Chemistry is available online on ScienceDirect - full-text online of volumes 53 onwards. Elsevier book series on ScienceDirect gives multiple users throughout an institution simultaneous online access to an important compliment to primary research. Digital delivery ensures users reliable, 24-hour access to the latest peer-reviewed content. The Elsevier book series are compiled and written by the most highly regarded authors in their fields and are selected from across the globe using Elsevier's extensive researcher network. For more information about the Elsevier Book Series on ScienceDirect Program, please visit: http://www.info.sciencedirect.com/bookseries/ *Allows a comparison to be made between unique but related structures. *Quality of the text and illustrations allows ready comprehension of key protein design features. *Identifies fibrous protein sequence features for analysis of the human genome. *Analyzes design principles for fibrous protein sequences thus leading potentially to development of new devices by nanofabrication.

Tau oligomers
Tau oligomers

Author: Jesus Avila

Publisher: Frontiers E-books

Published: 2014-08-18

Total Pages: 114

ISBN-13: 288919261X

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Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of intracellular aggregates of tau protein are a key neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, collectively termed tauopathies. The abundance of NFTs has been reported to correlate positively with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. However, accumulating evidences derived from studies of experimental models have identified that NFTs themselves may not be neurotoxic. Now, many of tau researchers are seeking a “toxic” form of tau protein. Moreover, it was suggested that a “toxic” tau was capable to seed aggregation of native tau protein and to propagate in a prion-like manner. However, the exact neurotoxic tau species remain unclear. Because mature tangles seem to be non-toxic component, “tau oligomers” as the candidate of “toxic” tau have been investigated for more than one decade. In this topic, we will discuss our consensus of “tau oligomers” because the term of “tau oligomers” [e.g. dimer (disulfide bond-dependent or independent), multimer (more than dimer), granular (definition by EM or AFM) and maybe small filamentous aggregates] has been used by each researchers definition. From a biochemical point of view, tau protein has several unique characteristics such as natively unfolded conformation, thermo-stability, acid-stability, and capability of post-translational modifications. Although tau protein research has been continued for a long time, we are still missing the mechanisms of NFT formation. It is unclear how the conversion is occurred from natively unfolded protein to abnormally mis-folded protein. It remains unknown how tau protein can be formed filaments [e.g. paired helical filament (PHF), straight filament and twisted filament] in cells albeit in vitro studies confirmed tau self-assembly by several inducing factors. Researchers are still debating whether tau oligomerization is primary event rather than tau phosphorylation in the tau pathogenesis. Inhibition of either tau phosphorylation or aggregation has been investigated for the prevention of tauopathies, however, it will make an irrelevant result if we don’t know an exact target of neurotoxicity. It is a time to have a consensus of definition, terminology and methodology for the identification of “tau oligomers”.

Fibrous Proteins: Structures and Mechanisms
Fibrous Proteins: Structures and Mechanisms

Author: David A.D. Parry

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-01-18

Total Pages: 630

ISBN-13: 3319496743

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This book provides the readers with an up-to-date review of the design, structure and function of a representative selection of fibrous proteins in both health and disease. The importance of the α-helical coiled coil, a conformational motif based on the heptad repeat in the amino acid sequence of all α-fibrous proteins (and parts of some globular proteins) is underlined by three Chapters devoted to its design, structure, function and topology. Specific proteins covered in the text and which depend on the coiled coil for their structure and function, include the intermediate filament proteins, tropomyosin, myosin, paramyosin, fibrin and members of the spectrin superfamily. Also described are fibrous proteins based on the β-pleated sheet and collagen conformations. Recombinant structural proteins, especially of silk and collagen, are discussed in the context of developing new biomaterials with varied applications. Established researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of protein chemistry, biochemistry and structural biophysics will find Fibrous Proteins: Structures and Mechanisms to be an invaluable collection of topical reviews that describe the basic advances made in the field of fibrous proteins over the past decade. This book, written by recognized authorities in the field, provides a clear account of the current status of fibrous protein research and, in addition, establishes the basis for deciding the most appropriate directions for future activity, including the applications of protein engineering and the commercial exploitation of new biomaterials.

Molecular Structures and Structural Dynamics of Prion Proteins and Prions
Molecular Structures and Structural Dynamics of Prion Proteins and Prions

Author: Jiapu Zhang

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-09-14

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 9401773181

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This monograph is the first easy-to-read-and-understand book on prion proteins' molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and on prions' molecular modelling (MM) constructions. It enables researchers to see what is crucial to the conformational change from normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) to diseased infectious prions (PrPSc), using MD and MM techniques. As we all know, prion diseases, caused by the body's own proteins, are invariably fatal and highly infectious neurodegenerative diseases effecting humans and almost all animals for a major public health concern. Prion contains no nucleic acids and it is a misshapen or conformation-changed protein that acts like an infectious agent; thus prion diseases are called “protein structural conformational” diseases. PrPC is predominant in α-helices but PrPSc are rich in β-sheets in the form as amyloid fibrils; so very amenable to be studied by MD techniques. Through MD, studies on the protein structures and the structural conversion are very important for revealing secrets of prion diseases and for structure-based drug design or discovery. Rabbits, dogs, horses and buffaloes are reported to be the few low susceptibility species to prion diseases; this book's MD studies on these species are clearly helpful to understand the mechanism underlying the resistance to prion diseases. PrP(1-120) usually has no clear molecular structures; this book also studies this unstructured region through MD and especially MM techniques from the global optimization point of view. This book is ideal for practitioners in computing of biophysics, biochemistry, biomedicine, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, materials science and engineering, applied mathematics and theoretical physics, information technology, operations research, biostatistics, etc. As an accessible introduction to these fields, this book is also ideal as a teaching material for students.

PrPSc Prions: State of the Art
PrPSc Prions: State of the Art

Author: Joaquín Castilla

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2018-11-07

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 3038973084

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This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "PrPSc prions: state of the art" that was published in Pathogens

Biomateriomics
Biomateriomics

Author: Steven W. Cranford

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-10-26

Total Pages: 446

ISBN-13: 9400716117

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Biomateriomics is the holistic study of biological material systems. While such systems are undoubtedly complex, we frequently encounter similar components -- universal building blocks and hierarchical structure motifs -- which result in a diverse set of functionalities. Similar to the way music or language arises from a limited set of music notes and words, we exploit the relationships between form and function in a meaningful way by recognizing the similarities between Beethoven and bone, or Shakespeare and silk. Through the investigation of material properties, examining fundamental links between processes, structures, and properties at multiple scales and their interactions, materiomics explains system functionality from the level of building blocks. Biomateriomics specifically focuses the analysis of the role of materials in the context of biological processes, the transfer of biological material principles towards biomimetic and bioinspired applications, and the study of interfaces between living and non-living systems. The challenges of biological materials are vast, but the convergence of biology, mathematics and engineering as well as computational and experimental techniques have resulted in the toolset necessary to describe complex material systems, from nano to macro. Applying biomateriomics can unlock Nature’s secret to high performance materials such as spider silk, bone, and nacre, and elucidate the progression and diagnosis or the treatment of diseases. Similarly, it contributes to develop a de novo understanding of biological material processes and to the potential of exploiting novel concepts in innovation, material synthesis and design.

Self-Assembled Peptide Nanostructures
Self-Assembled Peptide Nanostructures

Author: Jaime Castillo

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2012-11-21

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 9814316946

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The self-organization of bionanostructures into well-defined functional machineries found in nature has been a priceless source of ideas for researchers. The molecules of life, proteins, DNA, RNA, etc., as well as the structures and forms that these molecules assume serve as rich sources of ideas for scientists or engineers who are interested in developing bio-inspired materials for innovations in biomedical fields. In nature, molecular self-assembly is a process by which complex three-dimensional structures with well-defined functions are constructed, starting from simple building blocks such as proteins and peptides. This book introduces readers to the theory and mechanisms of peptide self-assembly processes. The authors present the more common peptide self-assembled building blocks and discuss how researchers from different fields can apply self-assembling principles to bionanotechnology applications. The advantages and challenges are mentioned together with examples that reflect the state of the art of the use of self-assembled peptide building blocks in nanotechnology.

Biochemistry
Biochemistry

Author: Donald Voet

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2021-05-20

Total Pages: 1490

ISBN-13: 1119770645

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The "Gold Standard" in Biochemistry text books. Biochemistry 4e, is a modern classic that has been thoroughly revised. Don and Judy Voet explain biochemical concepts while offering a unified presentation of life and its variation through evolution. It incorporates both classical and current research to illustrate the historical source of much of our biochemical knowledge.

Prion
Prion

Author: Yusuf Tutar

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2017-03-08

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9535130013

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Protein aggregation causes malfunction in several biochemical processes. Genetic and spontaneous formations of these transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal to humans and animals. Conformational change of normal form of the protein to misfolded form causes its accumulation. The misfolded infectious protein agent forms the pathogenesis of the disease. This book presents pathology of the disease along with current knowledge of the structure-activity mechanism in the first two sections. Dyshomeostasis of metals is implicated in the pathogenesis of prions, and this influence is discussed further to understand the prion mechanism. Genetic resistance and immunobiology of the disease are elaborated in the following section. Finally, a computational study on the dynamics of the prion propagation provides a structural basis of the mechanism.